Quote:
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Originally Posted by Beery
Quote:
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Originally Posted by heartc
When people think the sub campaign in the Pacific was a cakewalk, it's like saying normal infantry duty is a cakewalk, because suicide bombers on the other hand have a 100% casualty rate.
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That's why I don't like to use words like 'cakewalk' when describing any activity that involves significant risk. A death toll of 22% among Pacific submariners, when compared to the 75 to 80% of German U-boat crews, might seem tame in comparison, but if I was to do an activity that had a 22% death rate I'd enter it with great care and not a little trepidation, and I'd avoid it if I possibly could.. |
However even that 22% came from the issue that the boats were used to cover japanese main harbours like Truk which were well defended or they were ordered to attack highly risky areas/ targets (like landing crafts or merchants supporting japanese troops on Guadalcanal). At least til mid 43 merchants were ignored by sub command.